City embraces trash talk on Facebook

CARLSBAD -- The City of Carlsbad is using a 21st century method to talk trash, specifically solid waste pick up and disposal.

Kyle Marksteiner, a Carlsbad spokesman, will give a solid waste presentation at a special council meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday to show how the city has embraced social media to distribute information.

The presentation includes an overview of the city's solid waste Facebook page, which has been up since December 2015, according to Marksteiner. It currently has 365 "likes" and one five-star review.

"It has served as an effective way of getting word out the public, so city administration asked me to give an update," Marksteiner said.

Since its creation, the page has served as a way for the city to inform the public about solid waste services and for residents to ask questions. Some of the information on the page includes different drop-off locations, closures, schedule changes and reminders.

"Reminder: Please do NOT leave coals, ashes or other ignitable items out for trash pickup," one of the Facebook posts said. "This morning (1-22-16), some of the debris picked up by one of our trash units caught fire. Thankfully, solid waste employees were able to safely unload the contents and there was no damage to property and no injuries. The Carlsbad Fire Department was dispatched to assist. Thank you for helping us to keep our employees and community safe."

Marksteiner also said two informational videos will be shown at the meeting. The first video will introduce the city's new solid waste convenience station, which opened on Jan. 4 and is located at 302 E. Plaza St. The second video will include information about the city's grappler system, which is often used for bulk trash.

City Administrator Steve McCutcheon said that the city has shifted its focus to solid waste in order to try to make program more self-sufficient.

"For any municipality, your solid waste department should be an enterprise fund, which means it should pay for itself, and the City of Carlsbad’s solid waste program is not currently doing so," McCutcheon said in a statement.

He mentioned that Joe Lowendowsky, who works with Operational Consultants, had given the city a variety of suggestions on how to improve the program. McCutcheon said the City of Carlsbad Board of Solid Waste Commissioners, city administration and city council have been working together to implement them.

This special presentation comes shortly after the city installed new glass recycling bins at the solid waste convenience station, the recycling station on Lamont Street, and behind the Buffalo Wild Wings at 1801 W. Piece St.